The impression that the bulky defeat left among several members of the Atlético expedition displaced to Munich was one of manifest inferiority.
On the morning of the game, there were even those who dared to anticipate it, aware of the size of the opponent and his infinite resources.
The duel with Bayern contained the attraction of seeing how Diego Pablo Simeone would try to stop a team that, together with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, is setting the trend of where the game is going.
Simeone's bet to face such a qualified rival was brave.
Atlético was not that team that, when it feels inferior, wants to know the fairness of the ball.
Cholo's shouts asking his players to calm down and play calmly when they had possession were constant throughout the game.
Atlético did not abuse the balls either and only blatantly took refuge in the defense of their area when Bayern subdued them by increasing the intensity of the pressure.
Simeone pretended to face an opponent who accepts the exchange of blows from the risks he takes with the defensive line located at the height of the center of the field.
The result was a reality check.
Atlético was swallowed up by the new football that is imposed.
High pressure, recoveries in the opposite field, fast transitions and high voltage in the rhythm of the game with and without the ball.
With those weapons, Bayern not only gave the impression of winning when they wanted, they also left in the air that, had they needed more goals, they would have achieved them.
Bayern's deployment throughout the game brought to light an evil that is beginning to be a slab for the vast majority of Spanish teams that compete against the great teams in Europe.
The center of the field is no longer for its occupants a space to elaborate and distract.
Herrera and Koke, the midfielder couple that Simeone a year ago claimed to be the one who saw the least, was outmatched for speed and dynamism.
They succumbed to Kimmich's expertise in placement and distribution.
The German midfielder gave a course to remove and break lines with the vertical pass.
Neither the youth squad nor the Mexican could follow the stride of Goretzka and Tolisso every time they were deployed to accompany the attacks.
The rojiblancos' cruising speed to play the ball or to defend is very far from the parameters demanded by the new football that Bayern practices.
Without Thomas, the choice of Koke and Herrera was motivated by Saúl's absence and because Simeone thought that Torreira, who started in Vigo, was not yet ready to play two consecutive starting matches.
Step forward
Escorting the two midfielders with two wingers, in Munich they were Carrasco and Llorente, is part of the step forward that Simeone already illuminated after the confinement to try to finish the League in the top four.
Now it remains to be seen if the Argentine coach will maintain that idea or, as has happened on previous occasions, when faced with a win, he chooses to play with a
trivote
or a
quadrivote
.
In doing so, it will be reflected that the configuration of the campus is no longer that of yesteryear.
Most of the spending has gone to talented forwards or midfielders.
For two or three positions in attack, the list of footballers is as long as it is a millionaire in investments and salaries: Luis Suárez, João Félix, Diego Costa, Carrasco, Marcos Llorente, Correa, Vitolo and Lemar ...
